STs on warpath against reservation for Dalit Muslims, Christians

Published: Thursday, September 18, 2008, 14:39 [IST]

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New Delhi, Sep 18 (UNI) Up in arms against the move to provide reservation to Muslim and Christian converts, the Anusuchit Jati Arakshan Adhikar Bachao Manch has decided to display its strength on September 21 to oppose the ''UPA's conspiracy'' to infringe their rights to garner votes of the community.

Addressing newspersons, Manch national convener and former BJP MP Ram Nath Govind said it was a conspiracy hatched by the Congress-led UPA Government to provide reservation facility to Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians in the garb of Justice Rangnath Mishra Commission recommendation and Justice Rajender Sachar Committee report. Both the commission and Sachar Committee were set up with an eye over the votebank, Mr Govind alleged.

"We call it a conspiracy as SCs had drifted away from the Congress over the years and it is trying it best to expand its base by luring Dalit Muslims and Dalit Christians," he said.

He claimed that more than 2 lakh people belonging to the Scheduled Castes would be participating in the rally to be organised in West Delhi to oppose the move that would cut into the 15 per cent reservation provided to them under the Constitution.

He said the 15 per cent reservation was set as per the 1991 census. Now that the population of SCs had increased, the quota should also be increased to 18 per cent, he demanded.

Mr Govind asserted that the Dalit Christians and Dalit Muslims were not entitled to reservation as these communities did not believe in social discrimination and untouchability, the basic ground on which the reservation to SCs was provided.

He said both the communities had failed to submit an affidavit to this effect that they had no caste systems. If this facility was given to them, they would promoting conversion in the name of discrimination and then enjoying the reservation facility accorded in the Constitution for social justice, Mr Govind said.

Their apprehensions that it would affect their quota was true as the Supreme Court had already set the upper limit for reservation at 50 per cent.

He clarified that the rally was not being organised by any political party but the BJP had extended its support to it.

"We have urged the leaders of various political parties, like Mr Sharad Pawar of NCP, Mr Sharad Yadav of Janata Dal, Mr Ram vilas Paswan of LJP and UP Chief Minister Mayawati to attend the rally and support their cause.